First Vote for Presidential Election Ends in Failure: Kostas Tasoulas Receives 160 Votes, Short of Constitutional Threshold

As expected, the first vote for the election of the President of the Republic ended in failure, as Mr. Konstantinos Tasoulas’ candidacy did not surpass the constitutional threshold of 200 “yes” votes required.

The results are as follows:

• Kostas Tasoulas received 160 votes from New Democracy, and former PM Antonis Samaras, as well as independent MPs Mario Salmas, Pavlos Sarakis, and Haris Katsivardas.
• Louka Katseli, the candidate proposed by the SYRIZA parliamentary group, received 40 votes in favor from 26 SYRIZA MPs, 11 from the New Left, and independent MPs Areti Papaioannou, Athina Linou, and Ioannis Sarakiotis.
• Tasos Giannitsis candidate for PASOK received 34 votes from 31 PASOK MPs and independent MPs Baran Burhan, Rania Thraskia, and Petros Pappas.
• Kostas Kyriakou, candidate from political party Niki received 14 positive votes from 10 Niki MPs and independent MPs Dionysios Baltogiannis, Giorgos Manousos, Giannis Dimitrokallis, and Kostas Floros.

Those who voted “present” included the KKE (21 MPs), Elliniki Lysi (11 MPs), Plevsi Eleftherias (6 MPs), Spartans (5 MPs), MPs aligned with the Movement for Democracy (Evangelos Apostolakis, Kyriaki Malama, Theodora Tzakri, Alexandros Avlonitis), and Michalis Chourdakis (independent, from Plevsi Eleftherias).

Absent were independent MPs from the Spartans, Giorgos Aspiotis and Michalis Gavgiotakis (who sent a letter explaining his absence without stating voting intentions), as well as Giota Poulou (independent, formerly from SYRIZA and aligned with the Movement for Democracy).

The first vote for the election of the President of the Republic has been completed, with Kostas Tasoulas securing 160 votes. As a result, Mr. Tasoulas is expected to be elected to the highest state office in the fourth round of voting, scheduled for February 12.

The first roll-call vote for the election of a new President of the Hellenic Republic began shortly after 11:00 AM in the Plenary of the Parliament. According to the official statements of parliamentary parties and independent MPs, Mr. Kostas Tasoulas is expected to receive the nomination for the highest state office with a majority of up to 162 MPs in the fourth vote, which will take place on February 12.

The votes in favour of Tasoulas

According to constitutional provisions, the process includes up to five votes, with the first two requiring a majority of at least 200 MPs to elect a President. The third vote requires 180, the fourth 151, and the final one requires a simple majority. Kostas Tasoulas’ candidacy appears to be able to garner a majority of 160 – 162 MPs, including the 156 from the New Democracy party, led by former Prime Minister Antonis Samaras, and the independent MPs Mario Salmas, Pavlos Sarakis, Haris Katsivarvas, and possibly Giorgos Aspiotis and Michalis Gavyiotakis. This suggests that a “white smoke,” meaning the election of a new President of the Republic, is expected in the fourth vote, scheduled for February 12.

It should be noted that at noon on February 12, when the “white smoke” is expected to emerge from the relevant vote, the Speaker of Parliament, Nikitas Kaklamanis, will visit Mr. Tasoulas’ office to announce the final result. The swearing-in of the new President of the Republic will take place before the national assembly on March 13, 2025, when the term of the outgoing president, Katerina Sakellaropoulou, expires.

PASOK – SYRIZA Battle

Apart from Mr. Tasoulas’ candidacy, whose election is considered certain, special political interest also surrounds the informal competition between PASOK and SYRIZA’s presidential candidates. According to predictions, the candidate from the main opposition party seems likely to receive fewer votes compared to the proposal from the third-largest parliamentary party. Specifically, PASOK’s candidate, Tassos Giannitsis, has the support of 34 MPs from PASOK’s parliamentary group, as well as independent MPs Baran Burhan, Rania Thraskia, and Petros Pappas.

Greece’s Presidential Election Process Begins: Kostas Tasoulas Favored to Win

The multi-day institutional “choreography” for electing a new President of the Republic kicks off today at 11:00 a.m. in Parliament. All indications point to Kostas Tasoulas as the frontrunner, and projections suggest he will secure the presidency with a majority of up to 162 MPs in the fourth vote on February 12.

Constitutional Procedure and Timeline

As outlined by Greece’s constitution, the election process includes up to five rounds of voting, with progressively lower thresholds for securing a majority:

1. First Vote (January 25): Requires 200 votes
2. Second Vote (January 31): Requires 200 votes
3. Third Vote (February 6): Requires 180 votes
4. Fourth Vote (February 12): Requires 151 votes
5. Fifth Vote (February 18): Requires a relative majority

The most likely scenario is Mr. Tasoulas’s election during the fourth round when the required majority drops to 151 MPs. Current estimates suggest he could secure between 160 and 162 votes, including support from New Democracy’s 156 MPs and a few independents, such as Marios Salmas, Pavlos Sarakis, and others.

On February 12, following the decisive vote, Speaker of the Parliament Nikitas Kaklamanis will formally announce the results. The newly elected President is set to be sworn in on March 13, 2025, coinciding with the expiration of the term of outgoing President Katerina Sakellaropoulou.

Political Dynamics and Rival Candidates

Although Kostas Tasoulas’ election appears inevitable, an informal rivalry between the opposition parties PASOK and SYRIZA adds intrigue to the process.

• PASOK’s Candidate: Tasos Giannitsis, supported by 33 PASOK MPs and independents Baran Burhan and Petros Pappas.
• SYRIZA’s Candidate: Louka Katseli, backed by 40 votes from SYRIZA, Nea Aristera, and a group of independents, including Athina Linou and Yannis Sarakiotis.

A fourth candidate, Kosta Kyriakou, nominated by the Niki party, has the support of 10 Niki MPs and may also gain votes from the Spartans, despite earlier confusion about their support for Mr. Tasoulas.

Parties such as KKE, Hellenic Solution, and Eleftherias Eleftherias, along with several independent MPs, are expected to abstain or vote “present.”

With Kostas Tasoulas on track to secure the presidency, the focus will shift to the implications of his leadership and how the rival candidacies from PASOK and SYRIZA shape the political narrative. The official swearing-in on March 13 will mark the start of his tenure as Greece’s President, ushering in a new chapter for the country’s highest office.